Newark Mayor Cory Booker (D) will be the next senator from New Jersey. Booker easily cruised to victory on Wednesday, beating opponent Steve Lonegan (R). Booker had been consistently ahead in the polls leading up to the election. Booker will replace Sen. Jeffrey Chiesa (R), who was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Christie (R) after Sen. Launtenberg (D) passed away in June. This changes the Senate breakdown to 55 Democrats, 45 Republicans. Booker is up for re-election in November 2014.